Global Projects Exchange: India 2022

10 Oct, 2016

Suresh Prabhu, hon’ble minister for railways, talked to leaders from top international and Indian businesses about the critical role business must play in transforming India at an event held in New Delhi.

Endorsing a new business-led coalition for growth – India 2022 – the minister said: “India growing is good for the world, not just India.”

The event – called the global projects exchange – was hosted by Xyntéo, Shell and the IKEA Foundation and saw the launch of a new initiative for organisations committed to aligning the Government of India’s development goals with the private sector, to create more opportunities that can contribute positively to India’s future. The ‘India 2022 coalition’ will focus on key development areas, including skills, energy, connectivity, health and rural growth.

The global projects exchange is an annual event run by Xyntéo, which brings together global business leaders and connects them to ideas and opportunities that can contribute positively to global growth.

Harry Brekelmans, projects and technology director, Shell, said: “Access to energy changes the lives and life chances of people. Shell has a long history of investment in India and we remain committed to helping the country meet its energy needs. We believe that leadership and cross-sector collaboration are essential to overcoming the barriers to the energy transition. That’s why initiatives like India 2022 are so important for helping Indians gain access to clean and affordable energy.”

Per Heggenes, CEO, IKEA Foundation, said: “We believe that women can be the most important catalysts for change in their children’s lives as well as in society more generally. By empowering women, we can improve children’s health, education and future – and that’s good for everyone in India. This is why we are supporting the innovative collaboration between Xyntéo and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the India Development Foundation.”

Osvald Bjelland, CEO and chairman, Xyntéo, said: “At Xyntéo we believe that there is a different way to grow, where the biggest opportunities for growth are found in the most complex human problems. Our aim is to incubate leaders and their ideas and then fuse them to generate new growth opportunities. The India 2022 initiative offers an exciting opportunity for businesses from India and internationally to combine forces to meet commercial interests, while at the same time contributing positively to the country’s future.”

About the IKEA Foundation

The IKEA Foundation (Stichting IKEA Foundation) is the philanthropic arm of INGKA Foundation, the owner of the IKEA group companies. We aim to improve opportunities for children and youth in some of the world’s poorest communities by funding holistic, longterm programmes that can create substantial, lasting change. The IKEA Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child’s life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and a sustainable family income. Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org and www.facebook.com/IKEAfoundation.

About Xyntéo

Xyntéo is a platform for galvanising leaders and catalysing ideas - and fusing them into new projects, for new growth. Follow us on Twitter @xynteo.